Monument or sign-holder



(NoMbdeL) J. K. P. SHELTON.

MONUMENT 0R SIGN HOLDER.

No. 359,639. Patented Mar. 22, 1887.

N. PETERS. F fiiflolflhogmphur. Washin ton. D. C.

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PATENT JAMES K. P. SHELTON, OF GASTON, ALABAMA.

MONUMENT OR SIGN-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.359,6'39, dated March22, 1887. Application filed May 24, 1886. Serial No. 203,135. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom, it mayconcern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES K. 1?. SnnLToN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Gaston, in the county of Sumter and State ofAlabama, have invented certain newaud useful Improvements in Monumentsor Sign Holders or Posts, of which the following is a specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawings. y

This invention relates to certain improvements in monuments, tombstones,sign-holders, guide'posts, and similar devices constructed from castmetal, and relates to certain features of construction, as will behereinafter particularly pointed out.

Figure 1 is a front view of a sign-holder or monument embodyingmyinvention, the cover or shield being raised to expose the inscription.Fig. 2 is a similar View of a modified construction. Fig. 3 is an'edgeview of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4c 4, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 isa front view of a different construction. Fig. 6 shows anothermodification, particularly adapted as a sign or guide post.

In the drawings, Arepresents the main body portion of the monument orsigu-holder,which may be of any desired shape or form, and upon the faceof which may be placed or formed any desired inscription, sign, orinformation. This portion A is supported upon one or more legs, B-therebeing two shown in Figs. 1 and 2- expanded at theirlower ends to formfeet I) b, in order to facilitate their attachment to any desiredobject, or to form acomparativel y large base or supportshould theybeinserted into the earth. These legs are provided with strengtheningflanges or webs 0, extending from the feet b up to or a little above thelower edge of the body portion A.

V D represents a forwardly and outwardly projecting flange surroundingthe body portion A of the monument or sign-holder, and serving both togive a neat and finished appearance to the monument, and also to protectthe face of the monument and the inscription thereon from being defacedor disintegrated by storms.

In Fig. l I have shown a construction of my invention, in which the mainbody portion A is provided with a box-like receiver, E, formed by anoutwardly-projecting flange, e, which is arranged preferably centrallyof the part A and a short distance inside the flange D.

It is frequently customary to place a photo graph or other memento of adeceased person upon a tombstone or within a cavity formed for thatpurpose therein, and a construction of my invention, such as shown inFig. 1,'is particularly adapted for this purpose. The

inscription usual in such cases, together with the photograph or othermemento, may be at tached to a plate, F, of any desired material andplaced within the receiver E, the wall or outwardly-projecting flange 6being rabbeted for this purpose, and, if desired, a glass plate may besecured in front of plate F, it being held in place in any desiredmanner; or the inscription may be attached in any manner directly to thebody A, which forms the rear wall of the receiver E. V

I represents ahinged cover or shield adapted to swing against the outeredge of the flange e and close the open face of the receiver E. It maybe provided with a hasp, .T, adapted to pass over an eye or staplecarried by the main body portion of the monument, in order that thecover may be locked.

K K are perforated ears or lugs, preferably formed integrally with theother parts of the monument, and to which the cover I may be hinged, itbeing provided with lugs or ears 6 for that purpose.

A device of the above-described construction may be used not only aszatombstone, but also very advantageously as a sign or showcase, in whichcase the box portion E is made of convenient depth to receive thearticles desired to be exhibited. XVhen used for this purpose, theshield or cover I may be entirely removable, it being only used at nightor at such other times as it is desired to protect the articlescontained within the box or case from theft or injury. It will be seenthat a showcase of the above-described character affords greatprotection to the articles contained therein, as it would be practicallyimpossible to break into the case or receiver after it has once beenclosed and locked, from the fact of all the parts being formed frommetal. A show-case of this character may therefore be left exposedduring the night, whereas it is now customary to move such show-casesinto some building for their further protection.

When a construction such as last described is employed as a tombstone ormonument, the

spacebetween the flanges D and e may be ornamented in any desiredmanner, the flange D in such cases protecting the ornamental work, whilethe flange e and the cover I, if used, protect the inscription withinthe case or receiver E.

In Fig. 5 I have shown another form of my invention, in which the signor inscription holder or case E is circular in form. In this case but asingle leg, B, need be employed, the base or foot portion thereof beingof sufficient size to give asupport therefor. A monument or sign holderof this form may be formed either with or without a cover, as may bedesired.

In Fig. 6 another form of my invention is shown, which is particularlyadapted for use as a sign or guide post. The box-like receiver in whichis placed the board or plate containing the information and directionsgiven is preferably rectangular in form, and is usually left open or issimply covered by glass or some other transparent material.

Any one of the forms of myinvention herein described may be cheaplyconstructed, and is practicallyindestructible. They may be made from anydesired metal, though for ordinary purposes east-iron, galvanized toprevent its rusting, will be found desirable, as possessing therequisite of strength, durability,and cheapness.

I am aware that metallic signs and signposts have been heretoforeemployed. I am also aware that metallic monuments are well known; and Iam further aware that metallic picture-holders provided with hingedcovers or doors and adapted to be inserted into cavities formed intombstones of stone or other material have been heretofore used, and Idisclaim all such older and well-known constructions; but such earlierconstructions are so expensive that their use has been limited entirelyto monuments, as either they were too low for sign-posts or show-cases,or an expensive base was necessary, which would render them too heavyand clumsy for the last-referred to uses. These objections are overcomein monuments, show-cases, or sign-posts of the character hereindescribed, which may be made cheaply, and are of such portable characteras to be capable of easy transportation and frequent removals. Byforming the legs with the expanded-feet portions 1), the device isadapted to be supported on the surface of the ground, or to be plantedtherein, the feet in either case supporting the part A in an uprightposition. Great security to the contents of the receptacle or receiver Eis also afforded by forming it integral with the body A, as it isimpossible in my construction to remove receptacle E without taking thewhole device, and it is also impossible to effect an entrance theretoexcept through its open-face portion, which may be protected by a coverof any desired strength and security.

IVh at I claim isl. The herein-described monument or signholder, itconsisting of the main body portion A, the flange D, projecting forwardfrom the part A,and the box-receiver E,having its walls projectingforward from the part A and cast therewith, said part E being surroundedat the top and sides by the flange D, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the metallicplate or main body portion A, ofthe forwardly-projecting flange D, cast with the said plate, theforwardly-projecting walls 0 of the box-receiver'E, theforwardly-projecting hinge-lugs K, all cast integrally, the legs 13, andstrengthening-webs for the legs, substantially as described.

3. The herein-described monument or signholder having the legs B, thestrengthening webs or ribs 0, transverse to the legs, the feet I), theback or main plate portion A, and the boxlike receiver E, the lateralwalls of which project forward from the part A, all of said parts beingcast integrally, substantially as described.

4. A monument or sign-ho1der having the main body portion A, the flangeD, surrounding said main body portion, and the box-like receiver formedby the flange e, arranged inside flange D,and at a distance therefrom,substantiall y as set forth.

5. The herein-described monument or signholder, it consisting of thelegs 13 B, the main body portion A, the flange D, surrounding the mainbody portion, the box-like receiver E,inside flange D, and theperforated lugs K, all cast in one piece, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereofI allix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES K. P. SHELTON.

Witnesses:

A. E. MOORE, I T. MITCHELL.

